News Release

"Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids" to Support Joslin Diabetes Center

Charitable organization formed to support small and mid-sized, child-focused organizations

BOSTON—September 19, 2007—Kevin Youkilis, first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, today announced the creation of Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, a private, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Hits for Kids will raise support and awareness for community-based childrens’ charities and medical research organizations. Also today, the organization launched its website.

“Hits for Kids is committed to making a big difference for smaller organizations doing extraordinary work for children in need,” said Youkilis. “I believe that people will be excited to learn about these groups and eager to help out. Baseball fans are passionate, caring and generous people. We look forward to making a long-term difference in the lives of many children.”

Most donations are made primarily to a small group of large charities. Statistics show that nearly 80 percent of registered non-profits are small organizations reporting annual revenues less than $500,000; yet together these organizations receive less than three percent of all charitable gifts. These groups often struggle to raise sufficient funding. Hits for Kids will help support and fund some of these small and mid-size organizations.

Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, a Charitable Organization, will host a variety of events in order to raise funds and awareness, ranging from a large gala to more casual affairs involving children and their families. Corporate and individual contributions will also be accepted at the donor’s discretion.

Some of the organizations that Hits for Kids will initially work with include:

Christopher's Haven – a home for kids when cancer hits home, provides housing for children going through state-of -the-art Proton Beam cancer treatment at Mass General Hospital. Christopher's Haven provides a safe, comfortable and supportive environment for the young patients as well as their parents and siblings.

Italian Home for Children – “the home of last resort” for the most severely abused, neglected, and emotionally disturbed children. IHC offers these boys and girls a safe haven and a chance to put the pieces of their lives back together.

Joslin Diabetes Center's Pediatric Health Services – a team that cares for more than half of the kids and teens in Massachusetts with by diabetes. Joslin's personalized approach to care, education and support helps keep kids with diabetes and their families live a healthy life with diabetes.

A native of Cincinnati, Kevin Youkilis was drafted by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2001 draft. He was the Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002, and named to the International League All Star team in 2003. Youkilis made an auspicious major league debut on May 15, 2004 when he smashed a home run in a 4-0 win over Toronto against Cy-Young award winning pitcher Pat Hentgen. He appeared in 72 games for the World Series champions that year and was named the club’s Rookie of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. A native of Cincinnati, Youkilis was a two-time All-American at the University of Cincinnati and a member of the Sycamore High School team that won the AAU National Championship in 1994.

About Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids

Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids is a charitable organization focused on raising support and awareness for the health, advocacy, safety, and medical healing of children across Massachusetts and beyond. With the goal of rallying the support of volunteers, local business, and the heart of Red Sox Nation, Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids is teaming with existing, community-based children’s’ charities and medical research efforts that currently lack sufficient funding and awareness.